Since most of the "gun violence" was perpetrated by younger males with obvious mental issues, perhaps focus should be there instead of cashing in grandpa's old squirrel gun. How many gang bangers and other criminals are showing up? A Saturday Night Special can fetch $250 on the street, minimum. Makes for 'Good headlines'.

There is no hate, simple observation. Nothing is being done to help the mentally ill, just privacy of the majority is being sacraficed due to a few. When 5 muggers attack a home of a single mother, an multi round capacity defense weapon is approprite. Ask any victim of a violent crime. Fact-no gun in the house is more likely to be a fatality at the hands of an intruder. Poll any unarmed home invasion victim.

Posted by the Sandy Hook 26
a resident of another community
on Apr 12, 2013 at 4:21 pm

Mel: This isn't a "mental health" bill, it's a buyback. Do you want to raise taxes for a better healthcare system? Good, let's do it. Let's tax the heck out of guns and ammo. Good plan, Mel.

So how does : "just privacy of the majority is being sacraficed due to a few" ?????

Weird. Nothing to do with the topic.

Anyway: 3,413 gun deaths since Newtown. That includes 60 kids and 160 teenagers.

So Mel, I'll bite: how many die by drowning?

Let's see, Mel loves "OH, FACTS", so let's ask the CDC:

CDC "From 2005-2009, there were an average of 3,533 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States  about ten deaths per day. An additional 347 people died each year from drowning in boating-related incidents."

So Mel, have any other ill-conceived and fact-less strawman arguments to add?

Guns kill. If you have one in your house, you or a loved one is far more likely to die from it.

Posted by S Freidman
a resident of Atherton: West Atherton
on Apr 12, 2013 at 4:59 pm

Funny that the guy spewing facts not only uses a different argument (3k gundead since Newtown vs "more" annual kids in pools) he also can't support his assertions. Talk about an example of run-away emotions.

It is impossible to use intellect to convince the emotional. The reason for the gun buy back was due to a tragedy perpetrated by a mentally ill person...one person. The rest of the millions of law abiding gun owning citizens are being demonized as are legal weapons. Requiring a citizen to provide personal information to purchase an item legal to own is outrageous, Americans have a right to privacy.

Unless the poster is a retired shut in, the new buzz word of 'gun violence' implies other violence is acceptable, but not guns. To post one is entertained by the gruesome does convey volumes.

Posted by Casey
a resident of another community
on Apr 13, 2013 at 11:28 am

Where is the money for the buy back coming from? Will serial numbers be run to see if any of the guns were stolen, with any effort to reunite the gun with its rightful owner? What will happen to the guns after the congresswoman gets them? If they will be destroyed, how about evidence? The only "stories" I see about this on the Internet are identical, no real information with regards to people thinking about what is happening here.

Posted by Facts
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Apr 13, 2013 at 3:15 pm

@Mel: You say "Requiring a citizen to provide personal information to purchase an item legal to own is outrageous, Americans have a right to privacy." You seem to forget that you have to provide personal information in order to get the appropriate licenses to drive a car or fly a plane, or open a restaurant or bar, or to distill alcholic spirits, for just a few of many, many examples, some of which require giving much more personal information.

Posted by Hmmm
a resident of another community
on Apr 13, 2013 at 9:58 pm

Almanac - isn't it time to educate readers about what actually happens to guns during & after a buy back? Are serial numbers run? How much info does the person need to give when they turn in the weapon? Whatever info can be made public about what happens during & after the event in this state would be helpful. Thank you.

What a shame that simple questions evoke name calling, lambasting, and projecting accusations instead of a civil dialogue?

The effectiveness of buybacks are yet to be seen vs. positive assistance for those needing mental health services. I haven't yet seen one post supporting help for the mentally ill, who have perpetrated these massacres.

Operating cars and airplanes are privileges not rights. While guns are safe, there are people who misuse them require everyone's love and attention.

Mel - "I haven't yet seen one post supporting help for the mentally ill, who have perpetrated these massacres."

Then start a thread on improving mental health care, instead of using it as a straw man fallacy argument for the 4,000 killed by guns since Sandy Hook, or the good work performed in getting unwanted guns off the street and out of closets.

So, you refuse to support your own "unsupported statistics" (ie.. lies) about swimming pools?